Obama backer predicts victory in Hill war

Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While more than 80 Democrats in the House and Senate have yet to state their preferences in the race for the Democratic nomination, sources said Tuesday that most of them have already made up their minds and have told the campaigns where they stand.

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“The majority of superdelegates I’ve talked to are committed, but it is a matter of timing,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “They’re just preferring to make their decision public after the primaries are over. ... They would like someone else to act for them before they talk about it in the cold light of day.”

Obama currently holds an 18-13 lead among committed superdelegates in the Senate, while Clinton holds a 77-74 lead in the House. Asked which way the committed-but-unannounced superdelegates are leaning, McCaskill — who has endorsed Obama — said: “James Brown would say, ‘I Feel Good.’”

Not so fast, said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.

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“Considering the rough patch Sen. Obama is going through, it’s understandable that Sen. McCaskill would want to change the subject, but her observations don’t jibe with what automatic delegates are actually saying,” he said. “Most are concerned about Sen. Obama’s electability and are impressed by the fact that Sen. Clinton is winning the states that Democrats must carry if we are to be successful in November.”

Still, supporters of both Clinton and Obama say that the lobbying for congressional superdelegates seems to have decreased in recent weeks.

McCaskill said that the campaigns have all but given up on lobbying her Senate colleagues because they know their minds are made up.

Clinton backer Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) acknowledged that the lobbying is no longer as aggressive as it once was. “I think there’s a different touch now,” he said. “We’re staying engaged. Right now, it’s about making sure everyone still feels loved and wanted.”

Montana Sen. Jon Tester — one of the Democrats who has yet to commit publicly — said the campaigns “haven’t applied much pressure” of late. “I haven’t heard much, and it’s been a few weeks,” he said.

“All the low-hanging fruit has already been picked,” said one Democratic Senate aide. “The rest are waiting to see who the winner is or are doing what’s in their best interests. Most of the people that are remaining just don’t want to pick the wrong side.”